Scranton’s Equestrian Community Saves Non-Profit, Whereas Another Horse Therapy Struggles To Stay Afloat

Published 11/19/2023, 1:06 PM EST

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Equine therapy is another popular form that has emerged from equestrian sports where the purpose of this treatment approach relies on therapeutic interaction with horses to improve mental, emotional, and physical health. Selena Gomez, Chrissy Teigen, Kaley Cuoco, Bella Hadid and Robert Downey Jr. are some of the celebrities who have confessed to the life-changing effect of this therapy on their mental health management and warding off stress as well as building emotional strength which is pivotal for anyone’s personal development.

In the middle of excitement about equine therapy’s popularity, Scranton Art Haus Theatre came to life for ‘Hoedown for Hope’ with a pulsating warmth and goodwill in support of Marley’s Mission, an area nonprofit that uses horses to provide transformative therapeutic experiences stemming from trauma.

Community unity shines at Hoedown

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Hoedown was a source of much expectation and epitomized a community-driven nature which brought together people of goodwill for a noble cause on a Saturday night. It featured such interesting activities as a silent auction with luxury commodities, select drinks to offer taste bud titillation and delicious desserts. Highlighting unity in the effort, Gene Talerico, President of Marley’s Mission appreciated the community for their solid support.

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He pointed out the magnitude that it created and how it has been a source of hope for several kids in the area for over ten years. Thus, Talerico thankfully noted that the HoeDown for Hope is an annual key fundraiser for Marley’s mission which enabled this organization to move forward every year. However, a month ago one more organization took a step to raise funds for all age groups

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Equestrian program’s funding woes

Stable Life’s decade-long provision of free equine-assisted therapy and peer support through its Spirit Horse program is currently paused due to financial constraints in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. The program, serving diverse age groups and marginalized communities, faces suspension as rising operational costs compel the organization to seek external funding to cover expenses averaging $150,000 to $200,000 annually.

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The current program director Erin Gallant is in hot pursuit of Government support and getting a charitable status to keep its continued running. Their recent financial struggles caused by staff layoffs due to lack of funding have hit hard despite funding availed from the N.L. Beard and Moustache Club and Violence Prevention Avalon East as well as collaborations with the Red Cross. She underscores the significance of mental health care provision after pandemics, as well as the possible adverse effects caused by trauma.

Watch The Story: Female Equestrian Revives ‘Lost Tradition’ with Distinctive Flair

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Written by:

Maleehah Shakeel

917Articles

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I'm a US sports writer at EssentiallySports, where my passion for sports and the art of storytelling come together. As I thrive to bring insightful content to the table, I've honed my skills in crafting engaging narratives and offering meaningful analysis to the readers. Along with different segments of Olympic avenues, I am a huge equestrian sports enthusiast.
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Edited by:

Shifa Jahan